It was a perfect night for the offensive starters for the Durango High School football team.
The Demons scored touchdowns on each of their first six possessions before the starters checked out in the fourth quarter during a 40-10 win at Pueblo County on Friday night. It was the final road trip of the regular season for the seventh-ranked Demons (6-3, 3-1 3A South Central League).
“Perfect execution,” DHS head coach David Vogt said. “Third-down conversions are huge, and we have challenged our guys to convert on third down. They did that tonight. To go six-for-six on drives is great and exactly what we wanted to do.”
Durango didn’t punt until the final minute of the game after the starters had already checked out. The punt was a perfect one, as it pinned Pueblo County on the 1-yard line.
Special teams were key for Durango all night a week after a late kickoff return set up the game-winning touchdown for Pueblo South in a 35-34 DHS loss. The Demons recovered all but one of Pueblo County’s three onside kick attempts, and Carson Matz came on and made four extra-point attempts in getting his first chance to kick for the Demons.
“We wanted to come out here and execute and work on special teams since it was a weak point in our game last week,” Vogt said. “I feel like we did a good job of that.”
The Demons were again led by a brilliant performance from junior quarterback Jordan Woolverton, who passed for three TDs and ran for another. He was limited as a runner, as Durango looked to take pressure off an ankle injury sustained last week at Pueblo South. Still, he showed no signs of slowing down Friday.
Everett Howland got the Demons on the board first, as he marched the team down the field on a 53-yard scoring drive that he capped with a 3-yard TD run.
Pueblo County would make it a 7-3 game on a 34-yard field goal with 11:53 to go in the second quarter.
Durango wasted no time in adding to its lead on its second drive of the game. This time, Woolverton ran for a 2-yard TD to cap a six-play, 49-yard drive to make it 14-3.
“Early in the game, we didn’t have to throw the ball at all,” Woolverton said. “The running game was working very well. They started to slow our running game a bit, but then the passing windows opened.”
Pueblo County would get within 14-10, as quarterback Chase Hartman hit Corbin Spear on a big pass play. Niko Mestas was beat in coverage on the play, but the Durango defensive back made a remarkable play to temporarily prevent a Hornets touchdown. But, only a few plays later, Jose Handford scored on a 1-yard run with 6:07 to go in the first half.
With plenty of time to score before halftime, the Demons did so twice. Woolverton hit Ben Finneseth on a 7-yard TD pass to make it 21-10 with 3:13 to go before intermission. Only 1:03 of game clock later, Woolverton hit Gage Mestas on a 31-yard TD pass on the first play of a new drive to make it 28-10 before halftime.
“We had Gage solo up on a corner we knew we could beat,” Woolverton said. “Gage and I made a check to a route, and it worked out very good.”
Pueblo County would recover an onside kick out of halftime, but the Demons forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back. Four plays later, Woolverton hit Finneseth on a 49-yard TD pass to make it 34-10 after the extra point was blocked.
“They changed their coverage a bit, and it opened a hole in the middle of the field right where Ben was going,” Woolverton said. “I made eye contact with him before the play, and he knew he was getting the ball. It was a well-executed play.”
Durango’s next drive was a monster that ate 7:16 of clock spanning the third and fourth quarters. Woolverton and Howland checked out of the game, and backup running back Nate Messier ripped off a 16-yard TD run to finish a nine-play, 63-yard drive that made it 40-10.
Now, Durango will get ready to face Pueblo East at 6 p.m. Friday at home in a critical game to end the season. A win would see Durango finish second in the league and potentially host a first-round playoff game. A loss would send the Demons on the road in the first round, and Pueblo East (4-5, 3-1 SCL) likely needs a win to make the playoffs.
Since joining the Pueblo-based league in 2016, the Demons have yet to beat the Eagles of Pueblo East, including a 24-7 road loss last season.
“We talked to the kids tonight. (Pueblo East) has had our number the last three years,” Vogt said. “It’s a great opportunity for a little payback. That’s what we’re looking for.”
jlivingston@ durangoherald.com
